a matter of
idiom
1
—used to refer to a small amount
It cooks in a matter of (a few) minutes.
The crisis was resolved in a matter of a few hours.
The ball was foul by a matter of inches.
2
—used to say that one thing results from or requires another
Learning to ride a bicycle is a matter of practice.
His success was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
It's only a matter of time before/until we catch him.
3
—used to explain the reason for something
She insists on honesty as a matter of principle.
All requests for free tickets are turned down as a matter of policy.
Examples of a matter of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While unconfirmed, sources say the film revolves around the period at OpenAI in 2023 that saw CEO Sam Altman fired and rehired in a matter of days.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2025
Dealing with jet lag successfully is a matter of proper planning.
—Egor Karpovich, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Protect your little ones and furry friends: Never leave young children and pets alone in vehicles, especially during hot weather when car interiors can become dangerously hot in a matter of minutes.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2025
If trimming the squad is to be a matter of high priority for Guardiola, there might be some difficult decisions ahead.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
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Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2025
Dealing with jet lag successfully is a matter of proper planning.
—Egor Karpovich, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Protect your little ones and furry friends: Never leave young children and pets alone in vehicles, especially during hot weather when car interiors can become dangerously hot in a matter of minutes.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2025
If trimming the squad is to be a matter of high priority for Guardiola, there might be some difficult decisions ahead.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a matter of
Cite this Entry
“A matter of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20matter%20of. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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